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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Fraud email example:

From: "MURRAY STEVEEN" <murraysteveen@murraysite.net>
Reply-To: wallfan@mail.ru
Date: Fri, 04 Nov 2005 01:20:51 +0000
Subject: LETTER FROM WALLFAN READ AND GET BACK TO ME.

WALLFAN JOHNSON
ABIDJAN COTE D'IVOIRE,
WEST AFRICA.
Email(wallfan@mail.ru)

Good Day,

I got your contact address on my desperate search for a reliable person and
company for partnership investments overseas. By introduction I am WALLFAN
JOHNSON i am a boy of 19 years with my small sister we are from Sierra
Leonean.my late father was a serving director of the Cocoa exporting board
until his death.He was assassinated by the rebels following the political
uprising in my country. I escape from my country with my small sister by
the help of my father in-law who is also killed by the rebels later after my
running away from the country. Before the death of my father he had a
foreign account here in COTE D'IVOIRE up to the tune of $9.3million US
dollars he deposited under a suspense account with a bank here which he told
the bank was for the importation of cocoa processing machine.I want you to
do me a favour to receive this funds to a safe account in your country or
any safer place as the beneficiary . I have plans to do investment in your
country, like real estate and industrial production.please Iam writing with
heart felt condition because of how I lost my beloved late father .10% of
the total sum will be offered to you for your assistance, while 4% will be
set aside for any expenses that might arise during the transfer .the
transction is very legal and will be kept legal until its conclusion. God
will reward you as you going to help me out of this predicament.pls contact
me on this email address(wallfan@mail.ru)

Thanks and best regards
WALLFAN JOHNSON


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